As she emerged from the lotus pond, water droplets rolled down her mature silhouette, dripping back into the pool.

Er’er opened her eyes, which were once again those clear and captivating orbs. She shook her long hair and wiped her face, then spotted her reflection in the water and excitedly turned toward the shore: “Has it been a month?”

Li Ye reclined against a rock by the shore, seemingly examining the hourglass beside him carefully: “It’s already been one month and three days. You exceeded by three days.”

Staring in shock, Er’er paddled to the shore, looking at the hourglass markings in disbelief.

She had exceeded by three days.

But she had exerted her utmost effort, enduring the pain of rapidly growing bones, cultivating wholeheartedly without any distraction. How could she have failed to meet the deadline?

Her eyebrows drooped, and Er’er felt extremely aggrieved. Her eyes reddened slightly, her nose quivered, standing soaked in the water like a drenched chick.

Li Ye had been keeping a straight face, but seeing her like this, he finally relented and beckoned to her: “Come here.”

Looking at him pitifully, Er’er swam to the water’s edge in front of him, pouting her lips.

…

…

Sighing helplessly, he bent down, his ink-black hair sliding over his shoulders, his fire-red robes draping over the water’s surface like red maples by the riverside at dawn. Just as his nose was about to touch her forehead, he paused and said in a melodious voice: “I’ll give you a chance. Think of a way to erase these three days.”

Er’er was startled, raising her head to meet his gaze: “How can I erase them?”

He didn’t answer, only gazing deeply at her, his eyes swirling with mist-like emotions, like the hazy, enchanting fog of the Seven-Colored Immortal Mountain.

She instinctively swallowed.

Buddha says form is emptiness and emptiness is form. Form should not be emptied… if it shouldn’t be emptied, then don’t empty it.

Splash—

Someone rose from the pool, tilting her head up to kiss his lowered lips.

Golden wind and jade dew, a sweetness he hadn’t tasted for hundreds of years. The darkness in Li Ye’s eyes surged, and he reached out to lift her directly from the pool.

She had already grown into a young woman, which was perfect.

A fragrant breeze swirled through the great hall, lifting the gauze curtains that hung to the floor. The slowly descending hourglass markings suddenly stopped, then slowly began to move in the opposite direction.

A thick barrier fell over the entire Upper Bing Palace.

A minor immortal from the Li clan was busy outside. Upon suddenly seeing the new barrier, he couldn’t help but curiously tug the sleeve of the person beside him: “What’s that over there?”

The older Zhen Jun glanced over and lightly scolded: “Is that something you should be asking about? With so many current affairs, do you still have time to look around idly?”

The little immortal was startled and hurriedly withdrew his gaze, cradling the ceremonial robes and divine artifacts in his hands as he continued forward.

“These all need to be distributed. The grand ceremony is imminent, and there can be no mistakes,” the Zhen Jun continued. “Although Immortal Er’er is not from our Li clan, she is favored by the Supreme God. None of you should be negligent.”

“Yes,” the little immortal acknowledged.

A month ago, the Five Elements Immortal Gates had all received news that the Nine Heavens had found its heaven-mandated ruler, and as soon as she emerged from seclusion, the succession ceremony would be held.

Thinking of this, many people admired Er’er quite a bit. Despite her child’s body not hindering her succession, she was still willing to concentrate on cultivation at this crucial time—truly an immortal with exceptional ambition. It was so moving.

Kan Ze heard such remarks but only smiled without speaking.

Long Xu had warned Er’er before: Li Ye was the type of person who could sell you and still make you feel like you had profited. Unfortunately, the little girl hadn’t remembered it well.

The morning glow rose on the horizon. Kan Ze stood on the terrace, closing his eyes to feel the clear wind of heaven and earth. Behind him, the Tongue Spirit Bird softly said: “The wind is strong. The Supreme God’s wounds haven’t fully healed.”

Smiling slightly, Kan Ze didn’t turn his head: “There’s a big event today. Can’t I be willful just once?”

“No,” the Tongue Spirit Bird stood on Kan Qi’s shoulder, answering with certainty.

Sighing lightly, Kan Ze turned, resting his elbow on Kan Qi’s shoulder, his voice languid: “I’ve lost the throne of the Nine Heavens’ ruler and have many emotions. You won’t even indulge me a little.”

Kan Qi pressed his lips together, shaking his head slightly, while the Tongue Spirit Bird added: “You’re very happy.”

After waiting so many years, after experiencing life and death, he had still awaited the true master of the Nine Heavens—how could he not be happy? Kan Qi understood him too well, just as the Tongue Spirit Bird understood himself. Therefore, he didn’t want to indulge this Supreme God who refused to properly recover from his injuries.

“Entrusting it to her, is it alright?” Returning to the great hall, Kan Qi couldn’t help but ask.

“It will be,” Kan Ze affirmed confidently. “She’s much smarter than you think.”

To hide such a big secret and step by step win over Li Ye—there was no one in this world more suitable to be the ruler of the Nine Heavens than Er’er. It’s just that the little girl liked to play the weak to catch the strong, and she had a soft heart, only appearing weak.

The little girl, currently entangled in passion, suddenly shivered.

Li Ye paused, pulling his robe to wrap around her back, then embracing her entire person tightly, leaning close to her ear to ask softly: “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” her voice soft and slightly hoarse, Er’er turned to look at him. “I was just thinking, how did you come to like me?”

“Who said I liked you?” He snorted softly, his warm breath falling into her ear.

Er’er twisted her body in dissatisfaction, but he held her even tighter.

“If you don’t like me, then let me go,” she glared at him.

His nose brushed against her ear, and Li Ye said in a husky voice: “Romantic attachment has always hindered matters. Look at those ambitious figures in the mortal world—how many have died because of such love affairs? Whatever legacy in history, whatever romantic figure, as long as they’re troubled by feelings, when posterity looks back, they truly are nothing special.”

“Nothing special.” Er’er thought for a moment, her eyes brightening. “Then I want to descend to the mortal realm.”

Her waist was suddenly tightened, and she gasped softly, both angry and amused: “A Supreme God tens of thousands of years old, why won’t you let people say anything?”

Li Ye didn’t answer anymore, only opening his mouth to fiercely clamp down on the back of her neck.

Immortals cultivated to his level only loved to act, not to talk.

Thus, the barrier around Upper Bing Palace thickened by two more layers.

…

The succession ceremony in the Nine Heavens was held as scheduled. A young maiden, surrounded by auspicious cranes, flew through the Heavenly Gate before all the gods and Buddhas. All deities knelt, and auspicious dew fell from heaven for three days, blessing all things.

Taihe Xianshi and Supreme God Chu Yuan stood to the side, not looking at Er’er, but curiously observing Li Ye from a distance.

Naturally, he didn’t kneel, but such a person skilled in political intrigue and with fearsome divine power had today kept his aura extremely clean, truly looking only like the new ruler’s family member, quietly watching the new ruler’s coronation.

“What is he thinking?” Chu Yuan still couldn’t accept it. “Just like that, he gave in?”

Taihe stroked his beard, his eyes smiling into two slits: “He didn’t give in.”

Rather, in this world, he could have whatever he wanted, and what Er’er wanted, he could simply give.

“If this continues, won’t there be hidden troubles?” Chu Yuan frowned. “How can one allow others to snore beside one’s bed?”

Looking at him deeply, Taihe asked: “Why can’t one allow it?”

“He…” The words had just left his mouth when he froze. Chu Yuan suddenly realized something and forcibly swallowed his words.

Indeed, it was possible.

“You shame this old man,” Chu Yuan raised his sleeve.

Western Queen Mother went to Li Ye’s side, holding a golden scroll in her hands, speaking softly to him: “Immortal Er’er is still young. I think it would be more appropriate to first place this scroll of the world in the Supreme God’s keeping.”

Li Ye came back to his senses, glanced at the object, and shook his head: “It’s not appropriate to keep it with me either. Give it to her.”

“Why?” Western Queen Mother was very surprised. “This is great power, which should be contained by someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” Li Ye smiled lightly, looking at her sideways.

“Someone like me is also nothing special.”

(End of Main Text)